Dutch end Lightning’s unbeaten CB40 start

Lancashire’s unbeaten start to their Clydesdale Bank 40 campaign came to an end during an incredible finish against the Netherlands in Schiedam yesterday, in which they were undone by the manager of a Burger King joint.

Lancashire’s unbeaten start to their Clydesdale Bank 40 campaign came to an end during an incredible finish against the Netherlands in Schiedam yesterday, in which they were undone by the manager of a Burger King joint.

Lightning got themselves into a seemingly unassailable position at 199-2 after 30 overs of their innings thanks to notable knocks from Stephen Moore (77), Steven Croft (55), Karl Brown and Ashwell Prince.

But they lost their last eight wickets for just 37 in eight-and-a-half overs as Denton professional Michael Swart took 4-40.

Swart, the barrel-chested Australian batsman, took advantage of spin-friendly conditions with his part-time off-spinners.

He then crashed 41 to get the Dutch ahead of the rate before they slipped from 163-3 to 187-8 as the Lightning’s spin trio of Stephen Parry, Gary Keedy and Croft began to dominate.

But, with the game seemingly heading the visitors’ way, in strode restaurateur Mudassar Bukhari to hit a few whoppers. The fast food boss clobbered three fours and two sixes in his 36 off 26 balls to put his side on the brink before holing out to hand Parry a fourth wicket.

When he fell in the 38th over, the Dutch needed nine to win, which they secured with one wicket and two balls to spare to hand Lancashire their first defeat in three Group A clashes.

“It was a brilliant game, but just a shame we didn’t come out on top. We probably should have, which is disappointing,” admitted Lightning skipper Croft, who unusually dropped Bukhari while fielding at deep square-leg.

“I thought we were a little bit short in the batting and our bowling and skills in the field were a little bit off.

“The lad came in and played a great innings at the end, but we still felt we could have finished it off when we got him.

“We’ll take the positives out of it. We’ve not played a perfect game yet. We’ve been a little bit off in all aspects of our game in the first three matches, but we’ve still won two.

Cheered on by a healthy travelling Red Rose contingent, Lancashire had this game in the bag at two separate stages, once with the bat and then again with the ball.

Swart, who removed Brown and Paul Horton in the 32nd over to really start the collapse, was well backed up by seamer Ashan Malik, who actually finished with better figures of 4-24.

“We thought 250 was par,” admitted Croft, who later finished with 2-46 with the ball. “But, from being in such a good position, we should have easily got that.

“The collapse was disappointing because there were a few soft dismissals. We knew what the pitch was doing, it was quite low and slow.

“We could have maybe knocked it around a little instead of clearing the ropes, which was very hard to do for most of the batsmen.”

Seven of the nine Dutch wickets to fall went to spin after Swart and Stephan Myburgh added 83 inside 13 overs for the first wicket, and Parry was the pick with 4-29.

Bowling Wesley Barresi and getting home skipper Peter Borren caught and bowled in the 27th over – the first over of his second spell – gave Lancashire the upper hand, which was further strengthened by wickets for Sajid Mahmood and Ajmal Shahzad.

But Bukhari helped take 20 off Shahzad in the 37th to set up the nerve-wracking climax as Holland moved to the top of the group.